Florida Contractor Insurance Requirements: Liability, Auto and Workers’ Comp
Florida contractor insurance requirements depend on the license category and the job. A reviewer should identify the applicable licensing board first, then compare the project’s insurance clause with the actual policy evidence.
The DBPR Construction Industry FAQ lists minimum liability and property-damage amounts for Construction Industry Licensing Board categories. General and building contractors are listed at $300,000 liability and $50,000 property damage; other covered categories are listed at $100,000 and $25,000, or amounts specified by board rule. Do not extend that table automatically to separately regulated trades.
Licensing floor and project requirement
A licensing minimum answers whether the relevant license condition is met. A subcontract can ask for different limits, auto coverage, an umbrella, additional insured status or particular completed-operations protection. Compare each requirement separately rather than assuming a current license means the whole insurance program is acceptable.
For example, a higher occurrence requirement in a commercial project is a contract term. Label it that way in your request, and give the broker the clause so the response addresses the correct requirement.
Workers’ compensation needs its own review
DBPR says active licensees must maintain workers’ compensation coverage or an applicable exemption. The Florida Division’s exemption guidance explains that exemptions attach to eligible individual officers or LLC members, not the entire workforce.
Ask who will actually work on site. Record individual exemptions separately from employee policy evidence, and repeat the review if a solo owner adds a crew. The construction exemption checklist explains this distinction in more detail.
A hypothetical roofing file
A roofing business sends a liability certificate and an owner exemption. Its project will use employees and vehicles. The hiring company still needs applicable employee coverage, the vehicle-related insurance required by the contract, and the requested policy endorsements. The owner’s exemption is one record in the file, not a complete insurance package.
Review the documents before mobilization
Match the contracting business to the license and insured name. Compare policy limits, dates and operations with the project, then request supporting endorsements where the contract requires them. If an umbrella is offered to address a limit shortfall, ask the broker to confirm its underlying coverage and applicability rather than adding certificate numbers together.
Use the Florida state guide, the roofing requirements guide, and the COI review checklist. Keep each unresolved item assigned to a person and a due date.
Sources checked November 3, 2026. Confirm the specific board, category, employee arrangement and project terms.
Frequently asked questions
What insurance amounts does Florida CILB list for general and building contractors?
The DBPR construction FAQ lists $300,000 liability and $50,000 property damage. Other covered categories have different amounts, and separate trade boards may have their own rules.
Does meeting Florida’s licensing insurance floor satisfy every construction contract?
No. A project may require higher limits, additional coverages and endorsements. Review the applicable license category and the signed project insurance terms separately.